TWO SNAILS (plus a dog and a dragon)

Orkney Ferries

This is a basic guide to the best of my limited knowledge and offering detail on only those services personally used. For full and accurate up to date information, please visit the Orkney Ferries web site.

Houton Terminal offers a waiting room, toilets and drinks vending machine. There is a ticket office, delightfully staffed. Warm and friendly welcome, plenty of help and advice and some good chat. Services to Hoy (Lyness and Longhope) and Flotta by the MV Hoy Head.

Houton - Lyness 35 minutes direct crossing. Passengers may remain in their vehicle. Indoor passenger lounge and external seating on deck available. Friendly and cheerful crew.

Houton Integrated Timetable (Summer service)

The North Isles Terminal in Kirkwall services all of the Outer North Isles of Orkney, with routes to Sanday, Eday, Westray, Stronsay, North Ronaldsay and Papa Westray serviced by MV Varagen, MV Earl Sigurd and MV Earl Thorfinn. Some services sail direct from A to B,others call in at C and possibly D en route. All three boats offer a limited cafeteria service. Passengers may not remain in their vehicles without special permission.

There is a waiting room with toilets close to the link span. The ticket office is some distance from the link span. There are no formal left luggage arrangements and no refreshment facility.

Sanday: Loth terminal at the south end of the island links Sanday to Kirkwall. Some services go via Eday or Stronsay or both.

There is a waiting room at Loth, with toilet facilities. The Sanday Community Bus can be boarded at the link span bus shelter. Booking is advisable but not always necessary. Kelly and Andy, the bus drivers, will take you anywhere that you want to go on the island for a reasonable fee, charged by your destination island parish.